Special cable for 4K tv?

[cmangle]

Not sure if this is the right forum . . .

A friend is thinking about buying a 4k TV and the salesman says he needs a special cable(at a special price I'll bet) to connect his sources to the 4k!

An regular HDMI won't do or component (Red, Blue, Green with red/white audio)?

Fact or fiction!

[Tiny]

Na it's bullsh#t.
The HDMI cable should be version 1.4 though.

4K Support

The HDMI 1.4 specification adds support for extremely high video resolutions that go far beyond today’s 1080p systems. 4K is shorthand for 4,000 lines wide by 2,000 lines high, or roughly four times the resolution of a 1080p display. The term actually covers two formats, both supported in the HDMI 1.4 specification:

• 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high
• 4096 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high

4K displays will put high-end home theater systems roughly on a par with the state-of-the-art Digital Cinema projectors used in many commercial movie theaters. Staying true to its commitment to future-readiness, the HDMI standard can now support these systems with the extremely high bandwidth connectivity they will require.
How to Ensure 4K functionality in your Home Theater System

• Look for devices that support 4K functionality.
• All High Speed HDMI cables will support 4K functionality when connected to 4K devices. You can use your existing High Speed HDMI cables or choose a different cable type.

[Tiny]

OK, there may be some chance that the salesman is talking about HDMI 2.

The future
We were supposed to see HDMI 2.0 by now, but it's been delayed. Chances are it will support much higher frame rates (and resolutions and color depth too, probably). Is it possible these expensive new cables, with their incredible claimed bandwidth, will be able to pass the torrent of data of HDMI 2.0 when it arrives? Yes, but it's also possible they won't. How would we know this early on?

And in reality, it's irrelevant. If you can get a $2 HDMI cable that works now, why would you spend $50 on a cable that will work now, and might work later? Wouldn't it make more sense to wait until 2.0 comes out, and buy a $5 cable that works with the new spec? I'm positive there will be cheap HDMI cables that can handle all the data with HDMI 2.0.

How important is HDMI 2.0 to 4K Ultra HD?

is the latest iteration of the HDMI specification. While the existing HDMI 1.4 standard can deliver 4K video, it's limited to 30 frames per second (or 30Hz). While this is fine for most movies, broadcasters are looking for higher frame rates for TV.
HDMI 2.0 increases bandwidth up to 18Gbps and supports 4K Ultra HD at 50/60 fps, with 12-bit 4:2:2 colour (you don't need any special cables for HDMI 2.0 interconnectivity, any current high-speed cable will work). However, only Panasonic currently offers an HDMI 2.0 compatible 4K TV, in the shape of the TX-L65WT600.
So where does that leave the remaining first generation 4K sets? Well both Philips and Samsung, whose 4K panels are coupled to separate connection boxes, say they'll simply introduce new tuners which owners can upgrade to.
Sony and others are looking to implement a firmware fix; by shedding colour sub pixels they reckon they'll be able to fit high frame-rate 4K down a HDMI 1.4 pipe, most likely with 8 bit 4:2:0 colour. How visible this kludge will be remains to be seen. For what it's worth, we've seen JVC's 4K e-Shift3 projectors running 4K at the same colour resolution, and they look spectacular so the omens are good.

So there is all the info, unless he is getting a TV that is capable of using HDMI 2.0 then he doesn't need an HDMI 2.0 cable yet.

EDIT: He won't need a special cable at all according to

HDMI 2.0, which is backwards compatible with earlier versions of the HDMI specifications, significantly increases bandwidth up to 18Gbps and adds key enhancements to support continuing market requirements for enhancing the consumer video and audio experience. New functionality includes:

• 4K@50/60, (2160p), which is 4 times the clarity of 1080p/60 video resolution
• Up to 32 audio channels for a multi-dimensional immersive audio experience
• Up to 1536kHz audio sample frequency for the highest audio fidelity
• Simultaneous delivery of dual video streams to multiple users on the same screen
• Simultaneous delivery of multi-stream audio to multiple users (up to 4)
• Support for the wide angle theatrical 21:9 video aspect ratio
• Dynamic synchronization of video and audio streams
• CEC extensions provides expanded command and control of consumer electronics devices through a single control point

HDMI 2.0 does not define new cables or new connectors. Current High Speed cables (Category 2 cables) are capable of carrying the increased bandwidth.

[loanrangiel]

Nothing is recorded or broadcast in 4k so why would you buy a 4k tv ?

[cmangle]

Exactly guys (mates) "Why buy a 4K TV?"

I asked my friend AND the salesman(who was pushing the 4K sale) what 4k content is available?

With no plausible answer, my friend backed down from the 4k and bought a really nice 50" Panasonic smart TV. (and a $13.00 12' HDMI cable from Walmart)

Thanks for ALL of the input and knowledge . . .

Chris

[ol' boy]

Nothing is recorded or broadcast in 4k so why would you buy a 4k tv ?

There is 4K online content which you can download or stream.... What camera filmed it i have no idea though.

[hoe]

Nothing is recorded or broadcast in 4k so why would you buy a 4k tv ?

because it was only a few hundred dollars more than a full hd model and i have 2 st boxes with 4k output, sony blu ray (netflix/amazon prime/dlna etc) and tronsmart android box.....
and it should do freeview plus, when it eventually arrives in w.a.

there is plenty of 4k stuff out there to download, you havent lived till youve watched 4k porn.....

oh, a $2 ebay chinese hdmi cable works just fine with 4k.....

[TVguy]

As more LCD panel manufacturers tool up for UHD panels, screen sizes 50" and above will all be 3840 x 2160 resolution in a few years.
The problem with HDMI as an interface occurs when connecting to PC based devices that output RGB signals (rather than Y,Cb,Cr) with 10 bit colour depth or higher. Genuine 4k (DCI) content exceeds the maximum HDMI data rate of 18Gb/s when 10 bit colour is used. Display Port can easily handle these high data rates and is the preferred interface for high resolution PC outputs.
More pixels does not equate to a better picture and subjective assessment bears this out. Wider colour gamut, higher dynamic range and faster frame rates all produce far more perceptible PQ improvements than throwing more pixels at the screen.
The mine's got more than yours resolution game is squarely aimed at boosting flagging TV sales by convincing Joe Public he needs to replace a perfectly functional FHD TV. Most streamed UHD content is upscaled and bit constrained to allow for a viewable experience without buffering.
$2000 TV and then a $2 cable to save money makes little sense, when a $25 cable will at least offer some level of EMI suppression and at least a guarantee that all the bits at one end make it to the other end.

[BeepeeNZ]

You may find that the salesman is trying to sell a very expensive HDMI cable when there is no need. I have found this in the past when buying a TV and acting like I knew nothing about how AV and cables worked. The guy tried to sell me a cable that was almost $100. It was the best on the market he claimed and would make a big difference to the picture. When I explained to him I did infact know a bit about TV and AV signals he agreed that a cheaper cable would still work and there wouldn't be any noticeable difference.

[cmangle]

He probably graduated from the W.C.Fields school of snake oil sales!

[gordon_s1942]

I am guessing cmangle is not in OZ so I was wondering will 'we' (USA & OZ) be using the same 'standards' with this 4k form of TV along with the same cables etc.
I am thinking along the lines back in the days of the VCR (VTR for cmangle) when most European brands fitted SCART plugs to their brands and ours were RCA along with a few oddities like DIN, BNC and SO239's etc.
I thought all HDMI's were the same but that doesnt always seem to be the case with one for 'reverse' audio (from a TV to an Amp) along with the all familiar USB's having 2 versions relating to the speed/volume of Data transferring.

[Bula]

help him please

[Bula]

Nothing is recorded or broadcast in 4k so why would you buy a 4k tv ?

best words i've seen written about 4K TV. 100% Agree!

[jok11n]

best words i've seen written about 4K TV. 100% Agree!

And the other side says, nobody buys 4k TVs so why record or broadcast anything in 4k